House Bill No. 164 aims to improve the regulation of migrant labor housing facilities in Texas by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. A key change is the adjustment of civil penalties for violations of housing regulations, which are now set at a minimum of $50 for each person occupying the facility in violation, replacing the previous penalty of $200 for each day the violation occurred. The bill expands enforcement avenues, allowing actions to be initiated by the department, county attorneys, or migrant agricultural workers under certain conditions. It also establishes a structured complaint submission process to ensure timely notification and remediation of issues related to migrant labor housing.

Additionally, the legislation emphasizes worker protection by prohibiting retaliation against individuals who file complaints or provide information about potential violations. It mandates the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to provide multilingual information in regions with migrant labor facilities and to conduct research to identify common housing types and areas needing improvement. The bill sets a timeline for implementation, requiring the department to adopt necessary rules by March 1, 2026, and specifies that the changes will apply only to violations occurring on or after its effective date of September 1, 2025. Amendments to Section 2306.933 and new sections added to the Government Code facilitate these changes.

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